Numbers

Sixty set out from Cambridge all good men and true
On a gunship bound for glory with a young and wild crew
We’d charge in, make our stand, and we’d see victory
But when we’d won our first battle there were only fifty-three

More died from infection despite the surgeon’s tricks
That brought our bold and fearless crew down to forty-six
We then sailed away thinking we had seen the worst
But we steered her back around when we heard a cannon’s burst

Second fight that day and our luck was fading fast
Though we stayed afloat we’d lost most of our main mast
We were now adrift and very glad to be alive
Though I must admit our crew was now down to thirty-five

Most of the food was ruined from the salt sea down below
But we didn’t fear ‘til the water started running low
With our bold and hardy crew just a fortnight out to sea
The cruel sea had taken twelve and we were twenty-three

Four more days had passed when we caught site of a gale
We were sucking rain from the rags that used to be our sail
Another week adrift was the worst sight ever seen
Our beleaguered crew was now down to just seventeen

The first mate started screaming and set the deck alight
We tried to restrain him but we had a madman’s fight
When we stopped him he’d just hum: It’ll all be fine
But by then our battered crew was no more than nine

From nine we went to seven, from seven down to three
The cabin boy, the carpenter and the boson, that was me
We all sat there on the deck, though none of us could speak
We should be keeping watch but we were all too weak

The cabin boy was curled up in a corner all alone
The carpenter was muttering and gnawing on a bone
I just kept on laughing, cause I knew I’d lost my grip
As we were taken one by one to the rescue ship

Never go to sea, me boys, never leave the land
For once you’re out to sea it doesn’t matter what you planned
Your life lies in the mercy of the sea heartless and cruel
So you’ll stay ashore unless you truly are a fool

Though three survived that awful trip I’m the last one of my crew
The others locked in their own minds, their voyage never through
So listen to me lads before you take your hellish trip
Man belongs upon the ground, not on some Goddamn ship